Warrington Rylands hand new deals to eight first team players

Captain James Neild, top scorer Ben Hardcastle and goalkeeper Luke Pilling are among the players to have agreed new terms.

Clive Smith, Scott Holding, Matty Regan, Ben Hough and Cole Lonsdale will also remain with the Blues beyond the 2024/25 campaign.

Neil Reynolds' side are still in the hunt for the play-offs, although they currently find themselves eight points adrift of fifth-placed Stockton Town with seven games remaining.

After a difficult start to the season which culminated in the departure of former boss Mark Duffy after just 12 games in charge, Reynolds' arrival in late September has sparked an upturn in fortunes for the club.

They have the fourth-best away record of any side in the division, losing just three of their 18 matches on the road.

Of the eight new deals handed out, six have gone to the players who have made the most appearances for the club this season.

Top scorer Hardcastle has netted 15 times in 42 games - his appearance tally matched only by goalkeeper Pilling, who first joined the club in January 2023 from AFC Telford United.

Defender Lonsdale has made the fewest appearances of the eight with 18 in all competitions, although he only joined the club in October having started the season in the NPL West Division with Nantwich Town.

The raft of new deals were confirmed ahead of Saturday's 3-1 victory at Blyth Spartans, with defender Regan and forward Hardcastle both on target as Reynolds' side consigned Spartans to relegation from the Northern Premier League.

The Blues' next three games all come against teams currently above them in the table, starting at home to Worksop Town on Saturday.